I've been home for a week now and even after two days I wished I was back in France. However, as much as I would not like to be in the Sunshine State, I'm excited to take this time and find a job and start looking at grad schools. I'm ready to get back in the swing of things and start planning so that in the near future I can settle down some place above the Mason-Dixon Line and try to lead a lifestyle more like my European one. Until then it's looking like I'll be wasting away either in Orlando or Gainesville.
On a happier note, to properly close out my blog now that I'm back Stateside, here's a list of must do activities for any teaching assistant (or visitor) in Pau.
1) Have a drink on the Boulevard des Pyrénées. Try one of the trifecta of foreign bars, preferably The Galway or Café Russe. Whatever strikes your fancy will do, but I love a good Perrier Menthe on a sunny day.
2) Visit the château. It's only an hour-long guided visit (complete with a peek of Henri IV's legendary birth cradle oooo ahhhh), but even if you want to just hang out in the courtyard and see the façade, it's really beautiful.
3) Hang out in the park behind the château, and if you're feeling up to it, hike a bit in the forest behind it. I visited it literally my last weekend in Pau, and felt like I was back in the times of Henri IV seeing the château from that perspective.
4) Have a burger and drinks at Le Garage. Nice ambiance, though it can get crowded at night. Sorry no picture for this one. :/
5) Go for a hike in the Pyrénées. Seriously, take a bus, find a group going, do whatever it takes. It's absolutely worth it.
6) Check out the Basque coast if the weather is nice. If you're lucky enough to be in the area in the summer or early fall, you'll be in for a real treat (from what I hear).
7) Try some Basque and Béarnais specialities. Some of my favorites are garbure, gâteau basque, fromage de brebis (ewe's cheese, it's very good wtih black cherry jam!), axoa and jambon de Bayonne (Bayonne ham). Oh, and as for wine, it is a must to drink some sweet Jurançon.
8) Go see the Section Paloise. Rugby's actually really cool. There, I said it.
9) Grab some hot chocolate and/or chocolate from L'Atelier du Chocolat and enjoy it in Place Clémenceau, the central meeting place in Pau. Their chocolate is incredible. The store originated in Bayonne, the first city in France to start making chocolate back in the day.
10) If you're gonna be living in Pau, stop by L'Atelier du Vélo and buy a refurbished bike (or get your bike fixed) from the best bike repairman in France.
We'll leave it at a top ten list, but if you find yourself in the SW corner of France, know that I have more suggestions for you. I hope you all have enjoyed reading this blog as much as I've enjoyed writing. A très bientôt!
On a happier note, to properly close out my blog now that I'm back Stateside, here's a list of must do activities for any teaching assistant (or visitor) in Pau.
1) Have a drink on the Boulevard des Pyrénées. Try one of the trifecta of foreign bars, preferably The Galway or Café Russe. Whatever strikes your fancy will do, but I love a good Perrier Menthe on a sunny day.
2) Visit the château. It's only an hour-long guided visit (complete with a peek of Henri IV's legendary birth cradle oooo ahhhh), but even if you want to just hang out in the courtyard and see the façade, it's really beautiful.
3) Hang out in the park behind the château, and if you're feeling up to it, hike a bit in the forest behind it. I visited it literally my last weekend in Pau, and felt like I was back in the times of Henri IV seeing the château from that perspective.
4) Have a burger and drinks at Le Garage. Nice ambiance, though it can get crowded at night. Sorry no picture for this one. :/
5) Go for a hike in the Pyrénées. Seriously, take a bus, find a group going, do whatever it takes. It's absolutely worth it.
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| See the colors of the mountains? Incredible. |
6) Check out the Basque coast if the weather is nice. If you're lucky enough to be in the area in the summer or early fall, you'll be in for a real treat (from what I hear).
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| In Biarritz. Note the coat. Definitely didn't visit during summer or early fall. |
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| Brebis with some bourret. Drink that too while you're at it! |
9) Grab some hot chocolate and/or chocolate from L'Atelier du Chocolat and enjoy it in Place Clémenceau, the central meeting place in Pau. Their chocolate is incredible. The store originated in Bayonne, the first city in France to start making chocolate back in the day.
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| Hot chocolate and caramel chocolate |
10) If you're gonna be living in Pau, stop by L'Atelier du Vélo and buy a refurbished bike (or get your bike fixed) from the best bike repairman in France.
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| Andor and I |
We'll leave it at a top ten list, but if you find yourself in the SW corner of France, know that I have more suggestions for you. I hope you all have enjoyed reading this blog as much as I've enjoyed writing. A très bientôt!
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